So what does all that mean to your average joe?

The code ‘HLT’ is for Health, “AID” is for First Aid, and the numbers show the progression in complexity.

It all means that you should find your next first aid course pleasantly simpler, with more focus on practicing CPR and first aid assistance.

If your workplace is asking you to get your first aid certificate, you will most likely be looking at the HLTAID003 Provide First Aid. This is the general course that covers most principles on how to manage first aid situations. You might hear it called by it’s old names ‘Senior First Aid” or “Apply First Aid”.

For those in the child care and education sector – the HLTAL004 Provide First Aid Emergency Response in Education/Care Setting is a one day course and workbook that encompasses the previous requirement of attending 3 courses; Apply First Aid, Asthma and Anaphylaxis courses.

The HLTAID006 Advanced First Aid is a full on 2 day course covering all the principles of managing emergency first aid situations, including focusing on spinal care and basic triage of a multi trauma incident.

The next one up HLTAID007 is a one day course that includes how to administer oxygen to a casualty.

HLTAID008 is for people who service and provide updated first aid kits for organisations.

No doubt there will be more changes in the future, and another round of rebranding in a few years. As our understanding of how to assist an injured person changes – so must the training. We are a long way on from rolling recently deceased over a barrel or pumping air into their mouths using a fire billow! But perhaps we still have a way to go to get it all right. At this point in history we are trying to motivate as many people as possible to assist a casualty; so the focus is on empowering people to provide CPR. If you would like to know more about the changes in the first aid courses, or find out which course is right for you, we would love for you to contact us or book into any of our courses.

Child abuse occurs in Australia and it has terrible and long lasting effects on a person as they grow up. If you have seen a child in a situation that is raising red flags to you; you can feel helpless and overwhelmed, but there is something that you can do to help.

In South Australia there are a variety of people who either work or are volunteers in organisations working with children, who MUST by law, report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. There is a clear list of who is required to notify. However, any member of the community is able, and encouraged to make a report of suspected child abuse/neglect.

It’s important to know that you don’t need to have proof of abuse, you don’t have to have witnessed it or have any documentation or photos. You can make a report if you have “suspicion on reasonable grounds”. This means one of the following might have happened:

The child tells you they have been abused.

Your observations of behaviour of particular child or your knowledge of the child generally leads you to suspect that abuse is occurring.

A child tells you that he/she knows someone who has been abused.

Someone reliable such as relative, friend, neighbour or sibling tells you of the abuse to a child

If you think a child has been abused or neglected, you need to call the Child Abuse Reporting Line: 13 14 78.

Your name and information will be kept confidential, the family will not know that you called. You can call this phone number and just have a conversation about your concerns, you might decide you don’t have enough to go on to report at this point. Just making a report does not mean the child will be removed from the family. The person on the phone will ask you about your concerns and will make an assessment about the risk to the child based on many factors – not just your report.

If you suspect abuse or neglect is happening to a child – please ring the reporting line. It won’t hurt you, and it may save a child from an abusive situation.

If you want more information, or you need to attend a Child Safe Environment course for your work, contact us at Port Lincoln Training to find out more, it’s not as hard as you think.